2 Tiger Bodies Found In Maharashtra Reserve, "Territorial Fight" Suspected

The carcasses of a tiger and tigress, who may have died in a territorial fight, were found in the core zone of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TADR) in Chandrapur on Monday, an official said.

Tiger T-142 and tigress T-92 were found dead near Khantole pond in compartment 338 in Kolsa range in the TADR ocre zone, he said.

"They might have died in a territorial fight in the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. We are collecting more information from camera traps installed at the spot. The body of the tigress is partially eaten," the official said.

The tiger was 6-7 years old while the tigress was a sub adult, he added.

"The carcasses were sent to the Transit Treatment Centre, Chandrapur for autopsy, which will be conducted on Tuesday," the official said.

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Amit Shah's Masterclass On "How To Become An Effective MLA"

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said MLAs should have the skill to put forth the ideology and policies of the party in the Assembly using legislative rules.

Addressing the concluding session of the two-day orientation programme for newly elected members of Chhattisgarh Assembly, Mr Shah said responsibility towards the constituency, ideology and policies of the party as well as welfare and development of the state are three key responsibilities of an MLA.

"If we want to achieve success in all these three things then we have to allocate our time and strength with complete planning for it," he said.

Mr Shah was speaking on the topic 'How to become an effective MLA' at the event held in the state assembly complex.

संपर्क, संवाद और परिश्रम ही जनसेवक को जननायक बनाता है। pic.twitter.com/jmoY3otevO

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 21, 2024

"As an MLA, we should be aware we are carriers of a great tradition. When the country got independence, many pundits of democracy from across the world and journalists were apprehensive about how would India function and how would democracy function," he said.

"But in the last 75 years, we together along with all parties have deepened and strengthened its roots and have given a message to the whole world that we are a successful democracy," he added.

He told the legislators they must have "samvedna" (empathy) towards the people, promptness and skill to discharge constitutional responsibilities and curiosity to prepare themselves for these three responsibilities.

Another very important aspect is to remain happy, he said.

"No one has invited us. We have voluntarily come forward to serve the state and the country. When we have come forward then we also have to face challenges. We should always remain happy. If you don't remain happy then people will keep distance from you," he said.

There should be no assembly rule which they hadn't used by the end of two-and-half years of their term, Mr Shah told the gathering.

He told them to utilize question hour, zero hour, resolutions and private member bills in the best possible manner to raise issues after thoroughly studying assembly rules and regulations.

"The private member bill is a key medium to address various issues. After the formation of the Narendra Modi government (in 2014), Article 370 and Triple Talaq were scrapped and CAA was introduced. In the last 75 years, various private member bills were brought on these three issues (in Parliament)," he said.

"Opposition members had brought private member bills on these issues despite knowing it would get defeated. They put forth the ideology of their party before the public. Some good private member bills should be brought which can become a law after one or two decades," Mr Shah said.

Mr Shah said he would have brought an "abhinandan" (greetings) resolution in connection with the Ram Temple in Ayodhya if he was a member of Chhattisgarh Assembly.

"In this way, members can keep the ideology and achievements of their party before the public. If you want to become a leader in your area and then of the state and then of the country, 'sampark, samvad and parishram' (contact, communication and hard work) are the only three things that can help," Mr Shah asserted.

Mr Shah asked the new members to deal with bureaucrats humbly and politely to address the issues of their area, which should be raised in writing for effective redressal.

"Nowadays, it has become a fashion for public representatives talk with officials and shoot a video to make it viral on social media. I have seen such 'video veer' (those making such videos) losing polls by huge margins. The video will get them publicity for some time but the issue remained unresolved," Mr Shah said.

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"World's First Oxpressway": Akhilesh Yadav's Swipe At UP Government

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav today targeted the Yogi Adityanath government over stray cattle menace, terming a road in Uttar Pradesh "Oxpress way" after dozens of stray oxen were seen slowing down the traffic.

He also shared a video showing cars queued up behind the group of oxen, waiting the cattle to move aside.

ये है उप्र में बना दुनिया का पहला ‘ऑक्सप्रेस वे' (OXPRESS WAY)… जिसका उद्घोष है ‘आपकी जान, आपके हाथ'. pic.twitter.com/jrtvw6FdEd

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) January 20, 2024

"This is the world's first 'OXPRESS WAY' built in Uttar Pradesh... whose slogan is 'Aapki Jaan, Aapke Haath'," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Mr Yadav had been targeting the state government over stray cattle menace.

Last year, a farmer was forced to stay atop a tree for two hours to save himself from a bull attack, prompting the Samajwadi Party chief to claim that the police were needed to protect people from stray cattle.

"Today's 'Saand Samachar': To save his life from the bull, the farmer climbed the tree for two hours," he had posted online, adding that "Today's 'Saand Vichar': Now, a 'Saand Raksha Police' should also be formed in Uttar Pradesh."

The problem of stray cattle damaging crops and attacking people had become a major poll issue in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, then campaigning in the state, had promised a new system to deal with stray cattle problems.

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Severe Cold To Persist In Delhi, Orange Alert Issued Amid Dense Fog

The weather department has issued an "orange alert" for dense fog on Saturday in the national capital and adjoining areas, officials on Friday said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast mainly clear skies with dense to very dense fog during the early hours.

There will be cold to severe cold day condition at isolated places in Delhi, with maximum and minimum temperatures likely to settle around 15 and 7 degrees Celsius, respectively, they said.

Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist and head of the Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, said there will be a marginal increase in the maximum temperature next week.

"Mornings and evenings in Delhi will be cold. However, there will be relief during the daytime due to sunlight," he said.

He added there will be no significant change in Delhi's weather conditions in the month of January so far.

The national capital is continuously experiencing a foggy and cold week, with the maximum temperature on Friday settling at 14.2 degrees Celsius, five notches below the season's average.

On Friday, cold to severe cold conditions were observed across Delhi.

The minimum temperature settled at 7.1 degrees Celsius in Delhi, with a thick layer of fog enveloping several parts of the city, affecting rail, runway and road traffic.

The visibility at the Indira Gandhi International Airport was recorded at 500 meters at 8.30 am, as per the IMD.

Due to foggy conditions, at least 22 Delhi-bound trains or those having a route through the national capital were running late as on January 19, according to railway officials.

As per the data by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 4 pm stood at 348 under 'very poor' category.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. 

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Israel "Praying" Medicines Brought To Gaza Will Reach Hamas Hostages

Israel is praying that an emergency shipment brought to the Gaza border through Egypt, in a deal arranged by Qatar and France, will reach hostages held by Hamas in the besieged Palestinian enclave, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Thursday.

"We are praying that all the medication .... will reach them, but that's only the beginning," Isaac Herzog told the World Economic Forum in Davos, sitting next to a picture of the youngest of the 132 hostages, one-year-old Kfir Bibas.

Isaac Herzog, whose role is largely ceremonial, repeated his government's stand that the Gaza war must result in the removal of the ruling Palestinian Islamist faction Hamas, which carried out a shock cross-border rampage in southern Israel on Oct 7.

While saying he was not shying away from the "human tragedy" inflicted on Gaza civilians, Isaac Herzog cast the Israeli offensive as a step towards more peaceful relations with the Palestinians in the future, and as bolstering global security.

Isaac Herzog called on world powers to help in post-war Gaza and noted that, before the Hamas attack, Israel had been on a path to establishing relations with Saudi Arabia after doing so in 2020 with Gulf neighbours United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

"We all understand that there has to be a vision, and I think part of it should be also going back to the normalisation process of Israel and its neighbours in the region. I think it's part of a package," he said.

"But that requires to support Israel's efforts to undermine the capabilities of Hamas, and it's still there."

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Antony Blinken Briefly Stranded In Davos After Plane Breaks Down

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was briefly stranded in Davos on Wednesday after his plane experienced a "critical failure" related to an oxygen leak and another plane is being flown to Switzerland to pick him up, according to a member of his traveling press pool.

The top U.S. diplomat had traveled to Davos on Monday and was scheduled to fly back to Washington on Wednesday.

A Bloomberg report said the aircraft was a Boeing plane. Reuters could not immediately confirm what aircraft Blinken was using.
 

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Home Ministry Forms Tribunals To Reconsider Ban On 2 Kashmir Organisations

The Union Home Ministry has formed tribunals under the stringent anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act or UAPA, to decide whether the ban on two Kashmir-based organisations, Muslim League and Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, was justified.

Justice Sachin Dutta of the High Court of Delhi will preside over the two tribunals.

The ministry had banned the Muslim League -- led by Masarat Alam Bhat -- and Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, founded by deceased separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, under UAPA on December 27 and December 31, 2023.

"The tribunal will issue showcause notices to the organisations concerned and will be asked to present their side," a senior official said.

The proceedings would involve the recording of statements of investigating officers and experts, evidence against the activities of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and Muslim League by the home ministry as well as recording of the arguments by the organisations.

Last week, the home ministry had issued two notifications to empower states and Union Territories to act against teh Muslim League and Tehreek-e-Hurriyat. The notifications empower the Jammu and Kashmir administration to seize assets and freeze bank accounts and finances belonging to the two groups.

The Tehreek-e-Hurriyat was declared banned as it has been fomenting terrorism and spreading anti-India propaganda in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said.

"The 'Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, J&K (TeH) has been declared an 'Unlawful Association' under UAPA. The outfit is involved in forbidden activities to separate J&K from India and establish Islamic rule. The group is found spreading anti-India propaganda and continuing terror activities to fuel secessionism in J&K. Under PM @narendramodi Ji's zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, any individual or organization found involved in anti-India activities will be thwarted forthwith," read his post on X, formerly Twitter.
 
The activities of the group and its leaders are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty, security and communal harmony of the country, the ministry had said.

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Citizens In This European Country Now Can't Adopt Children From Abroad

Danes will no longer be able to adopt children from abroad after the country's only adoption agency said Tuesday it was ceasing operations amid reports of irregularities.

The Danish International Adoption (DIA) agency said in a statement it was "initiating a controlled wind-up of its activities as a facilitator of international adoptions".

The announcement came after Denmark's social affairs ministry suspended adoptions from the six countries with which DIA currently cooperates due to irregularities involving employment regulations.

The six countries are the Czech Republic, India, the Philippines, South Africa, Taiwan and Thailand.

DIA, which halted adoptions from Madagascar last year amid concerns over possible fraud, said Tuesday it had no choice but to shut down.

"International adoption can no longer, under the current conditions in Denmark, be run by an NGO like ours," DIA said.

It said it was currently handling 36 adoption procedures, and provided no details about what would happen to those cases.

International adoptions have in recent years plunged more than ten-fold in Denmark since 2010, when 418 were registered.

Meanwhile in Norway, the Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir) in December put an end to all adoptions from the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand, after several cases of illegal adoptions emerged in the media.

And as of January, no new adoption procedures from South Korea are allowed.

Bufdir had recommended a two-year freeze on all international adoptions pending the outcome of an investigation, but the government ruled that out and asked Bufdir to submit an evaluation as soon as possible.

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Poll Body Reschedules UP Bypoll Due To Public Holiday For Ram Temple Event

The Election Commission (EC) on Monday rescheduled a bypoll to fill a vacancy in the Uttar Pradesh legislative council as the last date to withdraw candidature was January 22, which the state government has declared a public holiday to mark the Ram temple consecration ceremony at Ayodhya.

In a statement, the poll panel said January 22 was the last day to withdraw candidature for the January 29 bypoll. But in view of the public holiday, the last date to withdraw nominations has now been fixed at January 23 and the bypoll itself will take place on January 30, instead of January 29.

On January 4, the EC announced two legislative council by-polls for Telangana and one for Uttar Pradesh.

It made it clear that the by-polls scheduled for Telangana will go ahead in accordance with the schedule announced earlier.

According to the established practice, polls and counting of votes for the Rajya Sabha and legislative councils take place on the same day.

The by-poll for the Uttar Pradesh legislative council was necessitated after former deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma resigned from the state's Upper House after being elected to the Rajya Sabha.

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Teapot, Bottle: Options For Pak Ex-PM Imran Khan's Party After 'Bat' Symbol Snubbed

As Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) stands deprived of its iconic 'bat' symbol after the Peshawar High Court order, the party candidates are being allotted other symbols by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), ARY News reported.

In a late-night decision, the Supreme Court on Saturday upheld the December 22 decision of the ECP depriving the PTI of its iconic poll symbol.

Following the verdict, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar said that all party candidates would contest elections independently.

Barrister Khan, who has been deprived of his post of PTI chairman after the top court judgement, was allotted "teapot" as election symbol while Shaukat Yousafzai's symbol has been "racket", ARY News reported.

PTI's Shahryar Afridi will contest the election with the "bottle" symbol, and Shandana Gulzar has been given the symbol "bowl".

On the other hand, PTI senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi's children Mehr Bano Qureshi and Zain Hussain Qureshi have been allotted electoral symbols chimta (tongs) for NA-151 and shoe for NA-150 constituencies of Multan, respectively.

Umair Niazi will fight the election with the symbol 'door' on Mianwali's NA-90 seat. Shoaib Shaheen has been given a 'shoe' to contest elections in Islamabad's NA-46 constituency, according to ARY News.

'Piyala' (bowl) will represent Shandana Gulzar in the NA-30 constituency of Peshawar and 'kettle' will represent Barrister Gohar Ali Khan in NA-10 constituency of Buner.

Jamshed Dasti, who is contesting on two National Assembly seats from Muzaffargardh, has been allotted 'harmonium' for NA-175 seat and 'aeroplane' for NA-176.

According to the returning officer, in NA-177, PTI's Maqsood Khan Jatoi has been allotted the symbol of a 'hookah', and in NA-178, PTI's Daud Khan Jatoi has been given the symbol of a keychain, ARY News reported.

PTI's Shairam Tarkai from PA-20 and Rangzeb Khan from PK-49 have been given the symbol of a dove.

In PK-50, a peacock has been allotted to PTI's Aqibullah Khan, and in PK-51, Abdul Karim has been given the symbol of a kettle.

On the other hand, PMLN has been allotted the 'lion' symbol, PPPP 'arrow', JI 'scale', PTI-Nazaryati 'batsman', IPP 'eagle', MQM-P 'kite' and TLP allotted 'crane'.

A three-member bench -- headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali -- announced the verdict after a day-long hearing on Saturday, ARY News reported.

The decision was announced minutes before the expiry of the fifth extended deadline by the election watchdog for the intending candidates for the submission of party tickets.

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"Can't Guarantee Every Nation Will Support Us": S Jaishankar On Maldives Row

"Politics is politics" and it can't be guaranteed that every country will support or agree with India every time, asserted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as he spoke about the India-Maldives row.

He was speaking at an event in Nagpur on Saturday.

"Politics is politics. I cannot guarantee that in every country, every day, everybody will support us or agree with us," he said.

Moreover, he said that in the last 10 years, India has been trying to build a very strong connection with the world.

"But, seriously, as a solution, what we have been trying to do in the last 10 years, with a lot of success, is to build a very strong connection, so that, though the politics may go up and down, the people of the country, the society, generally have good feelings towards India and understand the importance of having good relations with India," the Minister said.

S Jaishankar said that India has been engaged in infrastructure development in other countries.

"We are involved today in building roads, electricity, transmission, supplying fuel, providing trade access, making investments, and having people holiday in other countries," he added, stressing that "all these are parts of how you develop those relationships."

"Sometimes, things do not go in a good way, and then you have to reason with people to bring things back to where they should be," Jaishankar emphasised.

A diplomatic row was triggered between India and Maldives after three Maldivian leaders - Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid - posted derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and mocked him over his trip to Lakshadweep.

The matter was strongly raised by India, with Male and the top Opposition leaders of the island nation slamming the ruling establishment over the row.

Further, the Maldives is facing a boycott from Indian tourists, one of its biggest sources of tourism income, following the incident.

Amid an outpour of anger on social media over the disparaging references to PM, with #BoycottMaldives a top trend across online forums, leading faces from the Indian film industry as well as top celebrities came out in support of the call to promote beach tourism in Lakshadweep and elsewhere in India.

In the face of the online agitation, the Maldivian government distanced itself from the remarks against the PM.

Maldivian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Moosa Zameer, said such remarks against foreign leaders are "unacceptable" and do not reflect the official position of the government.

However, taking a strong exception to the remarks, New Delhi summoned the Maldivian envoy and registered a strong protest.

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BJP Wins 25 Seats in Assam's North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council

The BJP has retained power in Assam's North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), with the saffron party bagging 25 seats in the 30-member governing body in Dima Hasao district, officials said on Friday.

The counting of votes, which began at 8 am on Friday, ended late in the evening as the process was conducted using ballot papers, they said.

The BJP emerged victorious in 25 seats, including the six they won uncontested, they said.

Debolal Garlosa, the incumbent chief executive member of NCHAC, won from Dehangi constituency.

Three seats were won by Independent candidates, they said.

The NCHAC has 30 members, of whom 28 are elected and two are nominated.

Polling for the 13th NCHAC was held on January 8, and a voter turnout of 85.78 percent was recorded, officials said.

It was completed in a peaceful manner across 231 polling stations in 22 constituencies across Dima Hasao district.

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"Ball-By-Ball Commentary...": Raghav Chadha On Congress Alliance Talks

In a development that is likely to come as a relief for the INDIA alliance, two key members, the Congress and the AAP, have met for the second time in less than a week and said that seat-sharing talks for the Lok Sabha polls are progressing well. Discussions on the allocation of seats in Punjab and Delhi - where the AAP is in power - were seen as possible stumbling blocks for the alliance, along with West Bengal. 

Sources have said seat-sharing in Gujarat, Goa and Haryana is also being discussed by the two parties.

Speaking after a two-hour meeting at Congress leader Mukul Wasnik's residence in Delhi on Friday, senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said in Hindi, "The discussion on an alliance is going very well but it's not like a cricket match where we can give you ball-by-ball commentary. Congress leader Salman Khurshid has spoken to you in detail."

Mr Khurshid said discussions are progressing well and that they would continue until everything is decided upon. 

"We are moving forward very well and we are all satisfied. We are hopeful that we will arrive at a decision and place it before you after discussing it with our leaders. We are together and we talk about every state, but when we talk about a place where two or four of us (parties) have a strong presence, we think about it from the perspective of the INDIA alliance," the senior Congress leader said.

Asked about Punjab, where some leaders from both parties have opposed an alliance with the other, Mr Khurshid said, "Whatever we do, we will do it together. We are holding discussions keeping the people and our party workers in mind. We will take a decision on whatever seats we can and place it before our leaders, and then decide on the next batch of seats."

Similar sentiments were expressed by both parties after the first seat-sharing meeting on Monday. The Congress had said that it had decided to contest elections together with the AAP. The next day, senior AAP leader from Delhi, Gopal Rai, said that his party had stated its stand to contest the polls in five states - Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Goa, and Delhi - in alliance with the Congress, according to news agency PTI.

Punjab has 13 Lok Sabha seats and Delhi has seven. The BJP had swept all seven seats in Delhi in 2019 while the Congress had won eight in Punjab. 

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Delhi Police Arrests 6 With 12 Pistols, 75 Live Cartridges Ahead Of Republic Day

Ahead of Republic Day celebrations, the Delhi Police has heightened vigil and arrested six people along with 12 pistols and 75 live cartridges in separate operations this week, officials said on Friday.

The force has deployed a large number of personnel and is carrying out round-the-clock patrolling and vehicle checking. The special cell of the force has been carrying out drives against arms trafficking ahead of Republic Day celebrations.

In a special drive, the special cell three firearms suppliers, including a former state-level athlete, and seized 12 semi-automatic pistols from their possession.

"We received secret information that a member of a Madhya Pradesh-based firearms dealer, Pushpendra Singh, would come to Kalindi Kunj Road on January 7 to deliver firearms to his associates," Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) HGS Dhaliwal said.

The police laid a trap and arrested Singh and two others -- Naeem and Manish Bhati -- who had come to receive the consignments.

"We recovered a total of 12 pistols from them. It was revealed that Singh was a state-level athlete and participated in an event at the junior level in 2015," the police officer said.

In another operation, the Delhi Police arrested 22-year-old Ehti Sham-ul, a resident of Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh, during a vehicle check near the ITO bridge on Wednesday.

He was carrying 45 live cartridges that have been seized, the police said.

In a separate operation conducted by the north district police, two criminals were arrested when they were receiving 12 pistols and 30 live cartridges from an arms smuggler from Meerut region. However, the smuggler who was delivering the consignment fled from the spot.

A senior police officer said the seizure of 75 live cartridges and 24 pistols just before the Republic Day parade is a matter of concern.

"More than 8,000 personnel, including senior police officers, are keeping strict vigil everyday ahead of Republic Day. To ensure prompt and effective response, in case of any sabotage or exigency, the police are conducting mock drills on a regular basis," the officer said.

On Friday, three different mock drills, such as bomb calls, were conducted in areas under three different police stations -- Dariyaganj, Nabi Karim and Kamla Market.

According to the police, such mock drills are being conducted at different locations in the central district and focused on improving coordination between different units and agencies.

"Every single call, be it hoax, the security forces will have to check physically. To ensure smooth working process, we are conducting mock drills," said another police officer.

On Friday morning, the Delhi Police conducted drone surveillance as part of Republic Day security arrangements in the Yamuna Khadar area of Geeta Colony.

Besides, anti-sabotage check was conducted at Laxmi Nagar Metro Station, markets, high-footfall areas and other places by the bomb disposal team along with dog squad to enhance the security preparedness ahead of Republic Day by east district.

A police officer of northeast district said that they have already intensified day-and-night checking and patrolling. The police said they are also requesting people to report anything suspicious immediately.

The police said security has been increased across the national capital. Night patrolling staffers have been directed to check hotels, guest houses and dharamshalas.

They are checking security measures in place at these facilities, particularly near railway stations and inter-state bus terminals.

The police said they are taking action against anyone found to be violating rules under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). They are keeping strict vigil from the CCTV control room of strategic locations and Delhi's border areas. 

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Madras High Court Expresses Concern Over Gen-Z "Grappling" With Pornography

The present-day children are 'grappling' with the serious issue of watching porn and instead of punishing them society must be "mature enough" to educate them, the Madras High Court said.

The court also quashed proceedings against a 28-year-old man, charged with downloading pornographic content involving children on his mobile phone, saying the Information Technology Act, 2000, does not make mere watching such material an offence.

"In order to constitute an offence under Section 67-B of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the accused person must have published, transmitted, and created material depicting children in sexually explicit act or conduct. A careful reading of this provision does not make watching child pornography, per se, an offence under Section 67-B of the Information Technology Act, 2000," Justice N Anand Venkatesh said in an order on Thursday.

Even though the said section of the IT Act has been widely worded, it does not cover a case where a person has merely downloaded in his electronic gadget, a child pornography and he has watched the same without doing anything more, the court said.

Admittedly, there were two videos, involving minor boys, downloaded and available in the mobile phone of the petitioner and it was neither published nor transmitted to others and it was within the private domain of the petitioner.

The court, however, expressed concern over children watching pornography.

Viewing pornography can have negative consequences on teenagers down the line, affecting both their psychological and physical well-being.

"The Generation Z Children are grappling with this serious problem and instead of damning and punishing them, the society must be mature enough to properly advise and educate them and try to counsel them to get rid of that addiction. The education must start from the school level since exposure to adult material starts at that stage itself," the judge said.

The court advised the petitioner to attend counselling if he was still afflicted with this addiction.

"This court hopes that the petitioner will listen to the advice and get rid of the addiction for a happy and healthy future. Quashing of the criminal proceedings by itself will not help the petitioner and the petitioner has to help himself by getting rid of the addiction," the judge added.

"In the light of the above discussion, the continuation of the proceedings against the petitioner will amount to abuse of process of the court. That apart, it will be a stumbling block for the petitioner's career in future. Therefore, this Court is inclined to quash the proceedings" on the file of the Sessions Judge, Mahila Neethi Mandram (Fast Track Court), Tiruvallur District, the court ordered.

The judge said porn addiction, like other substances or "things" that people can become addicted to, can be understood through principles of "operant conditioning".

"This is where a certain behaviour, watching porn in this case, is "reinforced", or rewarded, which in turn makes you want to do it again (and again). Lots of different things can be reinforcing, and thus influence our behaviour, but porn can be especially reinforcing because the reward taps into a very basic instinctual drive - sex." "Therefore, it is very easy to become addicted to porn - it is accessing a fundamental (and very enjoyable) natural drive. It is also much easier to obtain than going out and finding a "mate" to fulfill this drive," the court noted.

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Delhi Man Stabbed During Argument Over Asking For Extra Momo Chutney

A 34-year-old man was hospitalised after being stabbed in the face by a momos vendor during an argument that broke out when he asked for more red sauce in Shahdara's Farsh Bazar area, police said Thursday.

The customer, Sandeep, was admitted to the Hedgewar Hospital where he is undergoing treatment for serious facial injuries, they said.

According to a police officer, Sandeep stated that he went to purchase momos from a roadside cart on Wednesday evening.

After buying momos, he asked the cart owner, Vikas (22), to give him more red sauce. However, Vikas told him that it was in limited stock.

Soon after, an argument broke out between the two and Vikas allegedly stabbed Sandeep in his face twice, and fled away, the police officer said.

An FIR was registered for attempt to murder and a police team formed to nab Vikas, the officer said.

Vikas was arrested from the Farsh Bazar area on Thursday morning, police said.

Police said Sandeep runs a small mobile charger-making unit in Bholanath Nagar in Shahadara. 

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Over 100 Myanmar Soldiers Who Fled To Mizoram Sent Back

A total of 104 Myanmarese soldiers, who fled to Mizoram during armed clashes with an ethnic insurgent group in the neighbouring country, have been sent back, an Assam Rifles official said on Wednesday.

Over 350 such soldiers have now been sent back to Myanmar by Indian defence authorities between November last year and January, she said.

The latest batch of 104 soldiers were airlifted from Aizawl to Sittwe in Myanmar on Tuesday, the official told PTI.

The Myanmarese soldiers, also known as 'Tatmadaw,' crossed the Indian border and entered Lungpuk in south Mizoram's Siaha district on January 6, she said.

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Ira Khan Makes The Coolest Bride-To-Be In A Lehenga And Red Hooded Cape For Her Sangeet

Celebrity weddings are always the talk of the town but often being closed affairs, the details take a while to surface. Currently, it is Ira Khan and Nupura Shikhare's wedding that has our attention. After registering their marriage in Mumbai, the couple along with their loved ones have been revelling in pre-wedding festivities leading up to the big wedding ceremony scheduled tomorrow at Taj Aravali Resort in Udaipur. In the meanwhile, Ira has been dishing out fashion statements aplenty. After going minimally chic and yet unconventional for her mehendi ceremony, Ira followed in the same offbeat vein for her sangeet. She picked a heavy-duty traditional lehenga adorned with an embellished embroidered pattern. The most striking and, of course, unconventional part of her look was the deep red hooded cape which she ditched the regular dupatta for. She delivered a masterclass in unique bridal style and it is certain to make its way to the bridal inspiration mood board in 2024. Considering the gorgeous elements of the fit, it was smart of her to keep her makeup balanced with minimal glam.

Also Read: Ira Khan Showcases Exceptionally Beautiful Full-Arm Bridal Mehendi With Peacock Details

Photo Credit: mipalkarofficial

Also Read: Ira Khan Continues Her Unconventional Bridal Streak In A Sheer White Look For Her Mehendi In Udaipur

Ira Khan's authentic bridal sartorial choices have been impeccable. After she took her vows in a harem-inspired ensemble, she picked a minimal, yet spectacular sheer white look for her mehendi ceremony in Udaipur. Her ethereal white look came with intricate embroidered details. From the halter neckline to the flared style, her look showcased minimal bridal fashion. She opted for sunkissed dewy glam that matched the daytime occasion.

Ira Khan's effortlessly authentic style has the fashion world taking notes. Watch this video below for a look back at Ira and Nupur's style at their legal ceremony in Mumbai and that of the guests who attended.

Also Read: Ira Khan Was An Unconventionally Edgy Bride In A Colourblocked Harem Pant Ensemble

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India Pledges 'Appropriate Action' After Completing Cough Syrup Bribe Probe

India will take "appropriate action" after completing an investigation into a complaint that a drug regulator helped switch samples of cough syrup linked to the death of children in Gambia in return for a bribe, two officials said on Wednesday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) linked the syrups made by India's Maiden Pharmaceuticals to the deaths of 70 children in 2022, though India's government said subsequent tests at an Indian government laboratory showed the syrups were not toxic.

Maiden, whose factory is based in Haryana state, denies wrongdoing.

Reuters reported in June last year that a lawyer named Yashpal accused Haryana's drug controller, Manmohan Taneja, of taking a bribe of 50 million rupees ($602,195) from Maiden to help switch the samples before they went for tests at the government laboratory. Taneja has denied the charges.

The investigator, Gagandeep Singh and Haryana Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Ashok Kumar Meena, told Reuters their superiors would decide on the "appropriate action" on the matter "as per law", declining to share their findings.

"We are very much clear that if anyone has done anything wrong, we will take strict action," Meena said. "There's zero tolerance against corruption. If any wrong thing is found, action will be taken, whether it is Taneja or anyone else."

Taneja did not respond to a call and a message seeking comment outside business hours. He told Reuters in October that the probe had been triggered by a "fake complaint from a fake person" and that "anyone can send any fake complaint against anyone".

Yashpal, who goes by one name, also did not respond to a call and a text message seeking comment.

Maiden founder Naresh Kumar Goyal told Reuters he was not aware of the status of the investigation. He earlier said his company neither switched the sample nor paid a bribe to Taneja.

Meena said the report would go to the level of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, whose office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

In his complaint, Yashpal did not say where he got the information, or provide evidence for his claim about the syrups made by Maiden. He told Reuters in June he had learned about the alleged bribe from at least two individuals in India's pharmaceutical industry, including one within Maiden, but declined to identify them for fear of retribution.

Indian-made cough syrups have been linked to the deaths of at least 141 children in Gambia, Uzbekistan and Cameroon since 2022, hurting the image of the world's largest drug-manufacturing country after the United States and China.

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Child Rights Body Summons YouTube Official Over Indecent Content Involving Mothers And Sons

The apex child rights body NCPCR on Wednesday summoned an official of YouTube next week over purportedly portrayal of potentially indecent acts involving mothers and sons on its platform.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has in a notice to the head of government and public policy of YouTube asked him to physically appear on 15 January 15 along with the list of all such channels running on YouTube and the list of channels on YouTube running such content.

The child rights body said it is an alarming trend on YouTube channels where the channels are portraying potentially indecent acts involving mothers and sons.

"This raises serious concerns about the potential harm it could inflict on the child's well-being and safety. Further, these videos have viewership, including minors, which also raises significant concerns," the NCPCR said.

"If you fail to comply with this order without lawful excuse, you will be subjected to the consequences of the non-attendance," the child rights body added. 

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Imran Khan And Lekha Washington Ace Minimal Ethnic Style At Ira Khan's Mehendi

Aamir Khan's daughter, Ira Khan and Nupur Shikhare are tucked away in cozy nook of Udaipur revelling as they host their pre-wedding festivities. At Ira's Mehendi celebration, Aamir's nephew Imran Khan was present as part of the bride's tribe. The Delhi Belly star was spotted with his plus one, Lekha Washington, rumoured to be his girlfriend, both serving ethnic chic style. Lekha chose a demure, elegant look in a white and blue lehenga with floral prints. Her dupatta matched the blue on her lehenga and was embellished with gota patti embroidered borders and floral patterns. She paired the ethnic outfit with pearl danglers and minimal makeup comprising of kohl, light eyeshadow and lips coloured in a bright shade of pink. Imran matched her elegance in a dapper beige suit paired with a black shirt beneath. Ira Khan's cousin Zayn Marie, who shared the post with Imran and Lekha, accompanied the duo in the image, while Imran's mother, Nuzhat, and daughter, Imara. All of them wore floral crowns made of white flowers as did many from the bride's tribe. 

Also Read: At Ira Khan-Nupur Shikhare's Wedding, Actor Imran Khan And Lekha Washington Serve Ethnic Style Goals

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A post shared by Zayn Khan (@zaynmarie)

Recently, Zayn Marie shared a series of pictures Imran Khan and Lekha Washington at the reception for Ira Khan and Nupur Shikhare soon after the couple's registered marriage in Mumbai. Zayn's icy blue lehenga was nothing short of resplendent while Imran looked dashing in a classic black tuxedo with a black blazer, paired with a white shirt, black bow and matching pants. Lekha Washington was seen at the same reception with Imran wearing a gorgeous red and gold ensemble lehenga skirt paired with a black blouse. An intricate Matha patti along with a traditional but light necklace and matching earrings were her choice of accessories for the night. 

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A post shared by Zayn Khan (@zaynmarie)

Watch this video below to find out how other guests and family were dressed at the reception, including Ira's father Aamir Khan, his ex-wives Reena Dutta and Kiran Rao and their dear friends Nita and Mukesh Ambani.

Also Read: Ira Khan Was An Unconventionally Edgy Bride In A Colourblocked Harem Pant Ensemble

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S Jaishankar, His Austrian Counterpart Discuss Ukraine, Gaza War

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg on Monday and discussed the situation in Ukraine and Gaza.

In a post on social media platform X, Jaishankar wrote, "Good to speak to my dear friend FM @a_schallenberg of Austria after the New Year."

"Recall last year's visit to Vienna. Exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine and Gaza, especially in light of my recent travels," he added.

Good to speak to my dear friend FM @a_schallenberg of Austria after the New Year. Recall last year's visit to Vienna.

Exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine and Gaza, especially in light of my recent travels.

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 8, 2024

Notably, the diplomatic relations between India and Austria were established in 1949.

The ties between the two nations have been warm and friendly, according to the MEA, with a regular exchange of visits including at the level of leaders, ministers, and Parliamentarians highlighting the importance that the two nations accord to further strengthening their relations.

The two countries also have a robust economic partnership, with bilateral trade pegged at USD 2.47 billion in 2021, the MEA noted, adding that over 150 Austrian companies have a presence in India.

Further, as per the video posted by Mr Jaishankar, the Indian community residing in Austria numbers 31,000.

India and Austria, in 2023, signed an MoU on the exemption of visa requirements for diplomatic passport holders. It was in addition to the MoU on gainful occupation for family members of diplomatic staff.

The nations also inked an MoU on a joint declaration on a working holiday while another pertained to a comprehensive migration and mobility partnership agreement.

Also, the two nations, last year signed an MoU on cultural cooperation between the years 2022-2026.

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Bangladesh PM Re-Elected From Her Constituency, Gets Over 249,000 Votes

Bangladesh Prime Minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina was re-elected to parliament on Sunday from the Gopalganj-3 constituency after a landslide victory in the general elections marred by sporadic violence and a boycott by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Hasina, 76, bagged 249,965 votes while her nearest rival M Nizam Uddin Lashkar from the Bangladesh Supreme Party secured just 469 votes, bdnews24 reported.

Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Kazi Mahbubul Alam announced the result.

She has won the Gopalganj-3 seat for the eighth time since 1986.

Prime Minister Hasina, who has been ruling the strategically located South Asian nation since 2009, is set to secure a record fourth consecutive term and fifth overall term.

The ruling Awami League candidates are leading in most of the seats, according to the results so far.

Earlier, the counting of votes started after the polling ended in the general elections which registered low voter turnout.

According to the initial estimates, the voter turnout was around 40 per cent but the figure could change after the final count, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said.

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"A Gujarati Will Find A Way To Innovate Simplest Of Things": Chief Justice Of India

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice DY Chandrachud on Saturday inaugurated a district court building in Rajkot and said that the people here have stayed rooted in its cultural heritage while embracing changes with time.

On the occasion, the Chief Justice of India said, "Speaking of dreams, I remember a funny saying that captures the spirit of Gujarat. They say that while the rest of the world rushes to innovate new technologies, a Gujarati will find a way to innovate even the simplest of things, for instance turning a tea break into a business strategy meeting is quintessential Gujarati humour."

CJI Chandrachud further emphasised the entrepreneurial spirit of people in Gujarat.

"Highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit engrained in every aspect of life here yet beyond the laughter is the core essence of progress in Gujarat. Rajkot much like its people has continuously embraced change while staying rooted in its cultural heritage, It is in this ability to amalgamate tradition with innovation that the true essence of development is discovered," he said.

The new district court building here comprises a five-storey building that has courtrooms, chambers of judges, a video conferencing hall, chambers of public prosecutors, a canteen for court staff and litigants, a library, and a bar room.

According to the press release, 39 courts that have been functioning from different parts of the city will shift to the building.

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Delhi Lt Governor Praises Temple For Bringing Down Its Gate To Facilitate Traffic

Delhi LG VK Saxena commended Jhandewalan Mandir on Rani Jhansi Marg for bringing down its gate to ensure safer pedestrian movement and reduce traffic jams.

In a post on X, VK Saxena shared a video of the Jhandewalan Mandir bringing down its gate and described the incident as exemplary.

"The ancient Jhandewalan Mandir on Rani Jhansi Marg has voluntarily brought down its gate beside the foot-over bridge, on my request. This exemplary exercise will ensure safer pedestrian movement and reduce traffic jams on this important arterial connecting North and South Delhi," Mr Saxena posted on X.

The ancient Jhandewalan Mandir on Rani Jhansi Marg has voluntarily brought down its gate beside the foot over bridge, on my request. This exemplary exercise will ensure safer pedestrian movement & reduce traffic jams on this important arterial connecting North & South Delhi. pic.twitter.com/vZqeMIrb4C

— LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) January 5, 2024

He further said that this incident will bring relief to residents and commuters of heavily congested areas and saluted the civic spirit of the temple.

"It will bring major relief to residents and commuters of heavily congested areas like Eid Gaah, Sadar Bazar, Azad Market, Model Basti, Pul Bangash and Motia Khan, among others. My salute to the civic spirit of the Temple Management", Delhi LG added.

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"A Relationship, Which Is Not Normal": India On China Ties

India, while reiterating its long-standing position on China, said the two countries continue to engage on the diplomatic and military sides for some sort of a resolution.

"India's position on China is very well known. It is a relationship, which is not normal, but we have had dialogues both on the military side and on the diplomatic side in October and November. And the idea is that we engage so that we can have some sort of resolution," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during the weekly media briefing on Thursday.

Randhir Jaiswal said he wanted to pull out what was discussed "in these meetings that we had in October and November so that I can give you a little more details".

He said, "The commander-level meeting was held in October where there was an agreement to maintain momentum of dialogue and negotiations through relevant military and diplomatic mechanisms. And they also committed to maintaining peace and tranquillity on the ground at the border areas"

He stated further that India and China also had the twentieth meeting of the WMCC (Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs). "This is at the diplomatic level. We had our joint secretary East Asia participating there. They had a very good in-depth discussion, constructive discussion, frank discussion and they looked at all the proposals to resolve remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in eastern Ladakh," he added.

He said the two countries agreed on the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas, ensure a stable situation on the ground and avoid any untoward incident. "And then thereafter, the two sides agreed to continue the dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and hold the next round of senior commanders meeting at the earliest to achieve the above objective," he said.

The 28th meeting of the WMCC was held on Thursday.

The Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Ministry of External Affairs led the Indian delegation and the Director-General, Boundary and Oceanic Affairs, of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the Chinese delegation, the Ministry of External Affairsinformed.

The two sides reviewed the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas and engaged in an open, constructive and in-depth discussion of proposals to resolve the remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in Eastern Ladakh, the Ministry of External Affairs stated in a press release.

They further agreed on the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas, ensure a stable situation on the ground and avoid any untoward incidents.

The two sides agreed to continue the dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and hold the next round of the Senior Commanders' Meeting at the earliest to achieve the above objective, the Ministry of External Affairs added.

Earlier, India and China held the 20th round of Corps Commander-level talks at Chushul as part of the ongoing efforts for overall disengagement and de-escalation to resolve the stand-off in eastern Ladakh.

The meeting was held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side on October 9-10.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two sides exchanged views in a frank, open and constructive manner for an early and mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in the Western Sector, in accordance with the guidance provided by the national leadership of the two countries, and building on the progress made in the last round of Corps Commanders' Meeting held on 13-14 August 2023.

The Ministry of External Affairs stated that both sides agreed to maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations through the relevant military and diplomatic mechanisms.

"They also committed to maintaining peace and tranquillity on the ground in the border areas in the interim," it added.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday reflected on India's relationship with China, while shedding light on historical nuances, he provided a perspective on how a more Bharat-centric approach could have shaped the nation's view of its ties with China differently.

"If we had been more Bharat, we would have had a less rosy view of our relationship with China," S Jaishankar said, delving into India's historical perspectives on its relationships with China.

In an address at the launch of his book 'Why Bharat Matters' in the national capital, S Jaishankar said, "Regarding the three countries that I posited, Pakistan, China, and the US, were actually three very debated relationships in our early years."

The External Affairs Minister referred to historical records, citing exchanges of notes and letters between the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on China. He emphasised the starkly differing views expressed by the two leaders, shedding light on the complexities of India's early stance on its relationship with China.

"This is not something which is my fantasy. There is a kind of a record out there. There's an exchange of notes, letters between Sardar Patel and Pandit Nehru on China, and they have very starkly differing views about it," the External Affairs Minister added.

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Woman Jumps To Death From 14th Floor In Mumbai, Note Cites Depression

A 19-year-old college student ended her life by jumping from the 14th floor of a residential building in Mumbai's Andheri area on Wednesday morning, a police official said.

A one-page note left behind by the victim suggested that she had slipped into depression and took the extreme step due to it, said the official from D N Nagar police station.

The incident took place at the Millionaire Heritage Society located on SV Road in the western suburb, he said.

Victim Vidhi Pramod Kumar Singh had been living in the building for the past few years as a paying guest, while her family members reside in neighouring Thane. She was a student of Mithibai College in Vile Parle, he said.

Nothing suspicious has been found so far. The building watchman first spotted her body on the ground and alerted other society members, who called the police, he said.

The police have registered a case of accidental death and informed her family, the official said, adding that the exact reason behind her death is yet to be determined.

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Italian MP Takes Gun To Party, Guest Gets Shot, Says "Not Me That Fired"

An MP from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's party was at the centre of a political storm on Tuesday after taking a gun to a New Year's Eve party where someone was shot with it.

Emanuele Pozzolo, a lawmaker for Meloni's far-right Brothers of Italy party, has admitted owning the mini revolver -- reported to be a 22-calibre North American Arms revolver -- but says he did not fire it.

It was discharged by accident, he said, causing a light injury to the leg of a guest, the son-in-law of a bodyguard of junior justice minister Andrea Delmastro -- who was also in attendance.

"I confirm that the shot was accidentally fired from a pistol I legally held but it was not me that fired," Pozzolo, 38, said in a statement cited by the La Repubblica daily.

The incident at the party in Rosazza near Turin, which about 30 guests attended, is under investigation, according to reports.

But the story drew astonishment and outrage among opposition politicians.

Possession of firearms in Italy is strictly regulated, although Meloni's party last month proposed to reduce to 16 the minimum age at which someone can obtain a permit for a hunting rifle.

"We could not have imagined that the passion for weapons of Giorgia Meloni's party was such that MPs would take them loaded to New Year's Eve parties," said Elly Schlein, leader of the centre-left Democratic Party.

Former centrist prime minister Matteo Renzi added: "Why bring guns to a New Year's Eve party in the presence of MPs and members of the government?

"Meloni's (party) are not a ruling class. They are inadequate, incapable, unpresentable. And dangerous, first and foremost for themselves."

Neither Meloni or her party has yet to react officially.

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Delhi Sees Massive Traffic Jams, Long Queues At Metro Stations On New Year

Several roads in Lutyens' Delhi area witnessed a chock-a-block situation while revellers stood in serpentine queues inside and outside metro stations as huge crowds thronged the India Gate, Connaught Place and various religious places in the national capital on New Year's Day.

"Be it in metro or on roads, there is no space in several areas of central Delhi," a commuter said.

As people had a hard time entering and exiting Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, and Central Secretariat metro stations, an official said many commuters did not have smart cards or online tickets which contributed to the long queues.

Those with smart cards or online tickets were being allowed by CISF personnel to go first at security checkpoints. Some people claimed on social media in the evening that entry was closed at the Central Secretariat Metro Station.

Massive crowds gathered at the India Gate, Prachin Hanuman Mandir, Bangla Sahib Gurdwara and Connaught Place circle, resulting in traffic chaos.

Traffic was heavy in other parts of the national capital as well, forcing people to take to X to complain about the situation. According to commuters, heavy traffic was witnessed in Chhattarpur, Barakhamba crossing towards Mandi House, Rajendra Prasad Marg roundabout, Sarai Kale Khan flyover, Mathura Road and Singhu Border to Mukarba Chowk, among others.

A bumper-to-bumper traffic was also witnessed near the India Gate and Mandi House while people also thronged Kartavya Path, leading to a jam-packed situation there.

A senior police officer said, "Adequate arrangements were made at various temples and markets since December 31. Teams are maintaining law and order condition." "One platoon of paramilitary personnel with eight staffers of the Delhi Police were deployed at Hanuman temple as well as at Connaught Place inner circle and metro stations to manage the crowd," a police officer said.

Lokesh Bhardwaj, a priest at Kalkaji Mandir, told PTI there was a massive surge of visitors seeking blessings on the first day of the new year. "People have been reaching here since December 31 and the numbers are still increasing," he said.

Harmeet Singh Kalka, the president of the Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee, also said that there was a continuous stream of devotees visiting holy sites. Huge traffic was witnessed near Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, chocking the road towards Connaught Place.

Kalka said that they have hired extra staff for 'langar' (community kitchen).

Deepankar Sharma, a volunteer at Prachin Hanuman Mandir, said that there will be a huge crowd at the temple till Tuesday.

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Man Thrashed, Paraded Naked On Suspicion Of Theft In Rajasthan

A man was allegedly beaten up and paraded naked on the suspicion of theft in Rajasthan's Nagaur district, police said Monday.

Police have registered a case against three accused and arrested them for thrashing the man after a video of the incident circulated on social media.

"Police have registered the case taking cognisance of the video of the incident which circulated on social media. Three people involved in thrashing the man have been arrested," Sadar Station House Officer (SHO) Sukhram Chotiya said.

He said Shakeel was nabbed by the local people on suspicion of theft in Basni Behlima village and paraded naked.

The SHO said Shakeel has five cases of theft registered against him between 2014 and 2022. 

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